Connector system

Abstract

A connector system conveys signals supporting patient medical parameter data acquisition and includes a connector body supporting a plurality of clusters of pins, e.g. at least first, second and third clusters. An individual cluster includes a plurality of pins. The first, second and third clusters are mutually isolated by a minimum electrical creepage distance. The connector body supports mating with a corresponding connector attached to an electrical cable. The connector system also includes a metal connector housing for at least partially electrically shielding the plurality of clusters of pins and is electrically connected to a shield potential.

1. A connector system for safely connecting and disconnecting medical monitoring/treatment devices, comprising:
 a first connector with a connector housing and a plurality of contacts grouped in clusters, wherein the contacts in each cluster have substantially identical length and contacts are staggered between different clusters, said clusters being isolated from one another by a minimum electrical creepage distance, and 
 a second connector configured to mate with the first connector and having corresponding contacts grouped in mating clusters, with the contacts of different mating clusters configured to sequentially contact the corresponding contacts in response to mating with the first connector, said mated first and second connector maintaining the minimum electrical creepage distance, the second connector further comprising an electrically conductive housing or shell configured to make a relatively low resistance connection to a housing contact of the connector housing of the first connector, thereby ensuring sparkless connection and disconnection of the connector to/from the corresponding connector. 
 
   
   
     2. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive housing or shell of the second connector makes a relatively low resistance connection to at least one of (a) a shield and (b) a shielding braid of an electrical cable attached to the second connector. 
   
   
     3. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conducting housing or shell of the second connector at least partially electrically shields the clusters of mating contacts and is electrically connected to a shield potential. 
   
   
     4. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the contacts of the first connector are implemented as pins or sockets, or a combination thereof, and the contacts of the second connector are implemented as sockets or pins mating with the pins or sockets of the first connector. 
   
   
     5. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector housing of the first connector at least partially electrically shields the contacts grouped in the clusters and includes an integral contact for direct insertion into a PC board and low-resistance electrical connection to a shield potential. 
   
   
     6. The system according to  claim 5 , wherein said integral contact is directly solderable to said PC board. 
   
   
     7. The system according to  claim 5 , wherein said integral contact is a homogenous part of said connector housing. 
   
   
     8. The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the housing contact of the first connector comprises at least one of (a) spring contact and (b) a spring metal finger. 
   
   
     9. The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the housing contact of the first connector is a homogenous part of the connector housing. 
   
   
     10. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein contacts of different clusters convey separate electrical communication links. 
   
   
     11. The system according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the clusters conveys a ground signal. 
   
   
     12. The system according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the separate electrical communication links conveys a patient monitoring signal. 
   
   
     13. The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the patient monitoring signal is at least one of (a) an alarm signal and (b) a patient vital sign representative signal.